Divan mover



F. H. CARTER nxwm MOVER May 10, 1949.

Filed July so; 1945 INVENTOR. flan Curie)",

Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED miss rATENT GF FI CE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to a divan :mover which provides a carrier for moving :di-vans, :couches and other articles of this type-and which'is applicable to facilitate the handling of divans or couches of the folding type which :are convertible for use either as a seat, when folded, or as a bed when unfolded and extended. Divans of this type are difficult to move becauseof their Weight; :bulk land the loosely movable relationship between "their parts. By-the use of mydnvention this difficulty is overcome and the danger of injuring tho article which is being moved is greatly reduced. More particularly my invention :provides adollwhaszing a wheeled :platform upon which a pair of suitably spaced skeleton frames are mountedalong their side edges "for clasping the members or a diuan oi the folding type when :saidmembers are unfolded or extended in bed iformin'g :position. Gne of these frames is hinged to the dolly :toiznrn :down laterally and slide into engaging -nnsition below the front of the base of the to be moved, and the dolly .andhthe :companion fined frame member are tiltable about :such hinged connection to'fold downi-and in.-cooperation with the hinged frame claspanid hoidithe members of the clivan' when "extended 'or in' unfolded nondition. By this means the dolly withtthe :divan clamped thereon'may betuinedxinto upright tposition and movedrfrom place to placa'through. narrow doorways and passageways, thusr-saving time and labor and :providing convenient means by which the divan can be :more easily bandied. Also the chances of l damage tothe divan oraothier article held by the dolly, and itoithe building :in

which it is used are reduced to :a minimum. These and other .ieatures of aduantage will be apparent from the following description.

To these endsimy"inventionzcomprises:the a-features of construction andtarrangementof rparts hereinafter described and ;particularly anointed out in theclaims, reference being made tothe accompanying drawings, forming ,part :of the specification, wherein,

Fig. 1 is an endelevation-ofadivan of the generaltype to whichmy-improved divan cmo veris particularly although not exclusively applicable,

the divan being shown folded seat formin position; Fig. 2 i-s-an end elevation showing the dolly and its rigid rfrannedn,ilprlglitsinormalinv ition and what ;I have =chosen to tiresomframe in lowered position iaelowzanivan when the latter is unfolded and extended in form- :i gmositionrready'iior the dolly andthe rigid upright frame :to-be .tiltedzirnto theinmkeniimedivan engaging :positinn, Fig; 3 1is Jan end :elevation showing the divan mover in normal upright position with the divan fully embraced "and *held ready to be moved by the dollar, the divan being shown diagrammatically; :Fig. 4 is a side elevation looking-directly 'at the rigid frame side of the dolly; Fig. 5 is an elevation looking directly at the opposite frame side of the-dolly, a =portion of the structure being'broken away'to accommodate the view shown in Fig. 6; 'Fig. '6'is an endelevation, partly broken away in section, of a detail on an enlarged scale showing the adjustable and flexible hinged nriounting of the subframe on the dolly; :and'Figfflis an-end elevation of my improved divan mover showing a adivans of the general type which are adjustahle into two positions, one folding seat formin :position :as shown in Fig. 1 and the other, extended :bed forming position as indicated "diagrammati- :cally iiniFig. 2. A :divanof this'character usually has a rigid base such as a relatively -long cushioneseat section -such as B, and acorresponding baick section such=as C, said seat and track beingsuitably hinged or movablyflsec-urcdin any well known manner to the :base-so as to fold into the "two positions defined above.

When in .use 'the divan mover iiszapplied to engageand .h'o'l'd adivan when the latter is in extended or unfolded bediiorming position, thatiis when the seat section ZB-is swung forwardlyinto horizontal position projecting beyond the front of the rigid base and resting flat thereon, and the back section *folded :down into horizontal 'bed -forming :p'osition resting flat on :the 1 base in the plane of the seat section and abutting "the rearward edge thereof, aslshowniinli'ig. v2.

loop, the ayokerportion "of whichgis disposed upper- :most. The lower end portions 12 1of=the rigid frame 1 are bent inwardly and are rigidly secured to one or the lower side edge-"portions "of the platform. Each of: the lowerend portions 43 01 the sub-frame is securedtotheopposite=sideedge portion of the platform from that to which the ends l2 are secured, by a hinged connection it, whereby the subframe is adapted to swing laterally down from upright position on the platform as shown in Fig. 3, into a position approaching horizontal, as shown in Fig. 2. When thus extended laterally and horizontally from the platform the sub-frame F is inserted by sliding transversely on the floor surface below the base between the end supports 12 thereof while the seat and back sections B and C of the divan are resting fiat upon said base as shown in Fig. 2. The hinged sub-frame F is therefore of such length as to move freely between the end supports l2 and engage the lower surface of the base A. In the latter position the yoke portion of the subframe F projects beyond the back section C of the divan and rests on the surface below until clasped to the upper end of the rigid frame as indicated by the broken line position shown in L Fig.2.

Each of the lower end portions [3 of the side arms of the sub-frame is provided with screw threaded downwardly extending shank l5, which forms one of the leaf members of the hinge connection l4 and an adjusting wing nut 16 is threadedly engaged over said shank. A sleeve I1 is freely slidable and rotatable on the lower end portion I3 above the wing nut and carries an inwardly projecting bracket its side. A collar I9 is freely slidable on the side arm above the sleeve and a normally horizontal shelf 2| is hinged at 20 to swing downwardly when not in use. The bracket l8 engages and supports the shelf in horizontal raised position. This structure as described is duplicatedon both of the lower end portions of the arms of the sub-frame and the single shelf 21 (Fig. extends longitudinally of the dolly and across the lower ends of both arms of the sub-frame.

;- the rigid and sub-frame members on the platform of the dolly, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position it will be noted, the load supporting shelf or abutment 2| engages against the front side of the base A. In applying the sub-frame below the base .of the divan, the sub-frame is moved with the shelf in close adjustment against the forward side of the base. Any needed variation can be compensated or adjusted by turning the wing nuts l6.

After the sub-frame has been adjusted below with its shelf or abutment against the forward side of the base, the dolly platform if! is tilted up upon the hinge connections hi and the rigid frame member E is thus swung downwardly into the horizontal broken line position as shown in Fig. 2, in which position the platform is placed against the adjacent side of the seat element B of I the divan. In this position the rigid frame E and the sub-frame F are clasped over and are made to hold the divan members A, B 0;.

on the platform by the flexible strap 22 and hook 23. The rigid frame, it should be noted, is of such length as to fold down between the usual fixed end arm members A of the divan. After securing the frame members E and together with the divan base, seat and back members tightly clasped therebetween in the normal horizontal position of the divan as indicated in Fig. 2, the entire device is tilted laterally up into the upstanding normal position shown in-,.

IS ri idly on,

Fig. 3, in which position the dolly, carrying the divan can be readily moved from place to place and loaded and unloaded in relation to a conveyance. By supporting the divan in tilted upright position with its front downwardly on the dolly the divan can be more easily handled and transported and time and labor are both saved.

The weight of the divan load which is supported by the shelf 2| as the dolly is tilted into upstanding position is relieved from each of the hinge connections M by a lip 24 fixed on each of the stems [5. These lips project inwardly and engage over the upper edge of the platform D.

To unload the divan from the dolly the operation is reversed, that is the loaded dolly is first tilted laterally down and returned into horizontal position described in connection with Fig. 2, the fastener 22 is released, the dolly and rigid frame E are withdrawn and returned into full line position shown in Fig. 2, the entire device is next slid outwardly with its sub-frame from under the base and the sub-frame is finally swung up into the upright position shown in Fig. 3 and fastened by the strap 22.

In connection with the hinge connections I 4 between the lower ends of the shanks i5 and the platform 10 of the dolly, flexible compensating means is provided, as shown in Fig. 6, which imparts holding tension of sub-frame upon the base and its associated seat and back elements. This tension means consists of a shaft 30 which is freely reciprocable in the supports 3| on the lower side of the dolly platform I!) and thus forms one of the hinge leaf members of each hinge connection. An expansion or other suitable spring 32 is threaded over said shaft and impressed between the annular stop 33 on said shaft and one of the supports 3| tends to hold the hinge connection to the forward edge at the side of the platform but permits slight expansive movement of the companion arm portion of the sub-frame to compensate for variations in the thickness of the divan members.

In the event the divan is of a type having end arms on its base which project upwardly and beyond the rigid frame E when the divan is clasped between the rigid and sub-frame and it is desired to fasten said end arms to more securely hold the divan members on the dolly, the end members of the rigid frame E are provided with outstanding loops 34 having eyelets 35, as shown in Fig. '7. These loops and eyelets are suitable to retain a longitudinally encircling fastener such as the strap 36 in effective outstanding position to engage and hold the divan members tightly secured between the rigid and sub-frame members on the dolly. In the event the loops 3A are used, the use of a sub-frame such as F may not be employed, the entire load of the divan being strapped only to the rigid frame while the front portion of the seat member of the divan rests on the platform.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention together with the apparatus which now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof but I desire to have it understood that the structure shown is illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to other uses than those above set forth and within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a divan rack, a platform, an upstanding rigid frame secured to one side edge of said platform, a cooperating sub-frame hinged to the opposite side edge of said platform and adapted to swing down into a position adapted to be inserted under the base of said divan when the seat and back members of said divan are extended in bed forming position on said base, said platform and frame being adapted to turn about said hinge connection and swing said rigid frame down over said seat and back members and cooperating with said hinged member to clasp the extended members of the divan therebetween, means for fastening said rigid and sub-frame members together in said clasped position and means secured to said sub-frame and engaging the front side of said base to support the weight of the base when said platform and rigid frame are turned upwardly into vertical position.

2. In a divan rack, a platform, a normal y upstanding rigid frame having two arms secured to one side edge portion of said platform, a cooperating sub-frame hinged to the opposite side edge portion of said platform and adapted to swing down on said hinge connection into a position to be inserted under the base of said divan when the seat and back members thereof are extended in bed forming position fiat on said base, said platform and frame being adapted to tilt up from normal position about said hinge connection and close said rigid frame down and in cooperation with said sub-frame and clas the members of said divan therebetween, means for securing said rigid and sub-frame members in divan clasping position, and a shelf on said sub-frame engaging the front side of said base to support the weight of the base as the platform and said rigid frame are turned upwardly into vertical position.

3. In a divan mover, a rack having a relatively long and narrow platform, an upstanding yoke frame rigidly secured to one side edge of said platform, a corresponding normally upstanding yoke frame hinged to the opposite side edge portion of said platform and adapted to swing out and down into lowered position suitable to be inserted under the front portion of a divan base to engage and support said base with the seat and back members of the divan in extended fiat bed forming position thereon, said platform and rigidly supported yoke frame being adapted to tilt down about said hinge connection to engage said seat and back members of the divan, means for securing the outer end portions of said yoke members together with the members of the divan clasped therebetween and abutment means projecting inwardly on the side of the hinged yoke frame for engaging against the front of the divan base to support a portion of the load of the divan when the rack and platform are tilted into normal upstanding position.

4. In a divan mover of the type defined in claim 3, the abutment means being adjustably mounted on said hinged yoke frame.

5. In a divan mover as defined in claim 2, the shelf being hinged to swing upward upon and projecting inwardly on the side of the hinged sub-frame for engaging against the front of the divan base to support a portion of the load of the divan when the rack and platform are turned upward into vertical position and a bracket support for supporting said shelf in outstanding position and having rotatable mounting means on each arm of sub-frame to permit the shelf to fold downwardly when the device is not employed to support a base.

6. In a divan mover as defined in claim 2, the shelf projecting inwardly and slidably mounted upon said hinged sub-frame to vary its position in relation to the platform for engaging the front of the divan base and for supporting the load of the base when the rack and platform are turned upwardly into vertical position, and means for adjusting the sliding position of the shelf on said hinged sub-frame.

7. In a divan mover as defined in claim 3, the rigidly supported yoke frame having outwardly extending loops to be engaged by a fastener wrapped around the yoke frames for engaging the arms of the divan and holding the base, seat and back members thereof secured to the rigid yoke frame.

8. In a divan mover as defined in claim 3, the hinged connection between the yoke frame and the platform having means for slidable mounting on the platform and for yieldingly retaining the yoke frame in innermost position against the platform by spring tension means.

FRANK H. CARTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,174,870 Daniels Oct. 3, 1939 2,273,409 Livingston Feb. 17, 1942 2,301,895 Loney et al Nov. 10, 1942 2,343,844 Milburn et al. Mar. '7, 1944 

